PURPOSE: to investigate life quality indications in individuals that underwent a total laryngectomy and their relationship with the vocal quality hearing-perceptive aspects. METHODS: the studied population was made up by six total laryngectomized individuals between 40 and 60-year old, of both genders, esophageal or tracheae-esophageal speech speakers. Life and Voice Quality (QVV) protocol (Behlau et al., 2001) and a fluency scale guide (Robe et al. ,1956) were applied for trials of Speech Therapy graduation and post-graduation students; and voice self-perception guide for trials of total laryngectomized individuals. RESULTS: the values for Physical Dominion of QVV were on average 63.19 and in the Social-Emotional Dominion 80.20, considering 100 as threshold. The subjects that showed a low global score are those that feel a major voice discomfort, referred to as tension and hoarseness and that the examiners classified as subjects with limitations to communicate. The subjects with values within the global high score have a better perception of their voice and underwent speech therapy, having been classified by the group of examiners as good speakers who get to give out sentences or have a fluent speech, with no hesitation. CONCLUSION: the score in the Physical Dominion was higher than in the Social-Emotional Dominion, and such data show that the major discomfort appears in the Physical Dominion. The trials carried through by the professionals and by the total laryngectomized individuals were correlated amongst themselves and with QVV.
Quality of Life; Speech; Alaryngeal; Voice Quality; Laryngectomy; Speech Perception
